If only to visit, Vancouver avant-pop quintet Only a Visitor are back — and not empty-handed: they have a new album on the way and have shared its nimble lead single "Fraud of Finery" in anticipation.
Decay arrives via Mint Records on February 23. It's the band's fourth album, most recently following 2019's Technicolour Education, and their debut for the label. The album was recorded, engineered and mixed by Joseph Hirabayashi, and mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering.
All of Decay's nine tracks are grounded by three-part vocal harmonies, including contributions from Future Star's Celina Kurz.
In a press release, Only a Visitor's classically trained composer Robyn Jacob described "Fraud of Finery" as about being "close but yet so far, reaching over barriers of communication, and showing love and connection through the digital versus the tactile." She continued, "The music takes a simpler turn with a meandering, stripped-down chord progression that cycles through each verse. A slow, romantic waltz that reaches into the chorus with expansive harmonies on the lyrics 'be apart, be a part.'"
"Fraud of Finery" stands as a testament to the project's sparse, innovative arrangement style — an exactitude that, along with moody themes, paints the music's idyllic playfulness with an intriguing sense of foreboding.
Watch the Lief Hall-directed video for the single below, where you'll also find the album tracklist.
Decay:
1. What Does Waiting Mean
2. Degree by Degree
3. Fraud of Finery
4. I Am at Ease
5. All You've Held Since
6. Understand Nothing
7. A Whole of a Life
8. Perfect Negatives
9. It's Like Looking Down
Pre-order Decay.
Decay arrives via Mint Records on February 23. It's the band's fourth album, most recently following 2019's Technicolour Education, and their debut for the label. The album was recorded, engineered and mixed by Joseph Hirabayashi, and mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering.
All of Decay's nine tracks are grounded by three-part vocal harmonies, including contributions from Future Star's Celina Kurz.
In a press release, Only a Visitor's classically trained composer Robyn Jacob described "Fraud of Finery" as about being "close but yet so far, reaching over barriers of communication, and showing love and connection through the digital versus the tactile." She continued, "The music takes a simpler turn with a meandering, stripped-down chord progression that cycles through each verse. A slow, romantic waltz that reaches into the chorus with expansive harmonies on the lyrics 'be apart, be a part.'"
"Fraud of Finery" stands as a testament to the project's sparse, innovative arrangement style — an exactitude that, along with moody themes, paints the music's idyllic playfulness with an intriguing sense of foreboding.
Watch the Lief Hall-directed video for the single below, where you'll also find the album tracklist.
Decay:
1. What Does Waiting Mean
2. Degree by Degree
3. Fraud of Finery
4. I Am at Ease
5. All You've Held Since
6. Understand Nothing
7. A Whole of a Life
8. Perfect Negatives
9. It's Like Looking Down
Pre-order Decay.
